A scruffy haired boy sprawled on top of a beautiful grand bed.
Pillows were tossed around the bed's perimeters like the sprinkles of an ice cream.
The sleeping youngster had the same dark amber colored hair as Wayde Tourey. He was about the same size as Tapper.
In fact, if Tapper were to consider it differently, Young Master might as well be a younger version of the Master.
The only difference is that Roman was still young and had not developed the aura and presence that Tapper so noticed in Lord Wayde.
Though Tapper and Roman were of similar stature, Tapper was a couple years older.
Just that a lack of nutrition from living in the AlleyWays slightly stunted his growth.
Today was the first day that he began work. The first task is to wake up the Young Master personally.
Apparently the top powerful and rich people detested alarm clocks.
Tapper had no experience in waking up anyone other than Ink. But often it was the other way around.
Ink was far more alert and attune to her surroundings than Tapper was. She just thwacked him whenever there was a need to wake up.
Tapper sighed, thinking about Ink made him worry.
He put a warm smile on his face and gently shook Young Master Roman.
"Good morning, young master."
But the Young Master didn't react at all. Tapper was almost envious. Kids in the AlleyWays didn't have such glorious wake up treatment.
He tried shaking some more but to no avail.
'Crap piles. Are all rich young masters so difficult to arouse?'
The frustrated Tapper decided to pause the shaking and decided to focus on fixing certain necessities around the room.
Prior to making the wake up attempts, he has scouted the room overall. Noting any locations he had deemed important.
Tapper walked up to the large curtains and drew them open.
It let in the beautiful morning sunlight. At the same time, Tapper used the opportunity to admire the view.
The mansion was an upper level building privy only to the top brass of Spectrum City. The busy streets and other high rising towering buildings made up of the majority of the view.
He went back to shaking the Young Master awake.
Tapper even prepared some water and once again lampooned mentally that top people's lives were just too good. They even have water brought to them!
Soon enough, Roman stirred and woke up.
Immediately, without giving a warning, Tapper ran over and decided he was absolutely not going to let go of this opportunity.
"Good morning, Young Master!
"Awake, for the sun has risen,
"The sky is blue, the birds are chirping,
"The dogs are shi- I mean, eating!
"The wind blows forth the news of spring… ~~"
Tapper sang on and on about spring even though it was autumn.
He also took the opportunity to shove the glass of water into the hands of Young Master Roman.
"Young Master, drinking water in the morning chases away the previous day's sorrows. Bottoms up!"
Actually it was supposed to be alcohol not water but who knows and who cares.
"..ugh… what? Who… who are you? Where is Fin?"
Tapper momentarily stopped his continuous yammering.
"Well Young Master, I am your personal servant as assigned by the Master."
At the same time, he also pondered, 'Fin? Who was he expecting now?'
The groggy young master sobered up instantly. He stared at Tapper in shock.
"But… isn't Fin my personal servant? Where is he? Fin! Fin!" Roman completely ignored Tapper and began to call out.
At the same time, Tapper felt distressed.
'Double crap. If he always sees me as the fellow who replaced Fin, we won't be able to get along well for long.
'I have to appear as a friend, not a former friend's replacement.'
Tapper got a migraine just thinking about it.
By now, Roman had already hopped out of bed. He rushed to the door to his room still anxiously calling out for Fin.
It would be fine with Tapper if he continued but the Young Master's issues would all be thrown on him.
Tapper would be blamed for the Young Master's not so good appearances for example right now, Roman was only in his underpants!
And he was trying to go out the door!
"Young Master! Wait!"
Sadly, he was ignored.
"Please put something on. If you wish to ask for something from others, it's more effective if you look neat!"
This caused Roman to pause and consider what he had said. But at the same time, Tapper was glared at.
Roman had no good impression of the new servant that replaced his Fin.
Tapper knew this as well. So he had not reacted to the glare and instead just smiled brilliantly.
Roman hastily put on some day clothing.
In fact, he grudgingly asked for Tapper's assistance.
But throughout the entire dressing, Tapper had been bombarded with a whole load of comparisons to Fin.
Roman left the room and marched all the way to where the head maid was.
Tapper followed behind him.
The head maid was busy setting up tasks. She was also subjected to a huge load of bombardment by Roman as soon as he opened his mouth.
"Young Master. Fin is to no longer be in your assignments. If there are—"
But Roman cut her off and yelled, "What do you mean he is no longer my personal servant?! I want him. Where is he?"
Unfortunately, all he got in response was the neutral toned response characteristic to the training of the servants.
Roman ran to the Head butler.
The same event occurred.
Tapper didn't particularly care if he was better than Gin or not but constant comparisons and insults really got on his nerves.
'Calm down. Calm down. I am loyal. I will not have opinions. Calm down.' Tapper thought while he rushed after the Young Master once more.
Roman then rushed to his father's study where Wayde was currently at. He entered without knocking leaving Tapper still outside.
Servants weren't allowed into the study room. That was only privy to the Master and his family.
Tapper remained outside and waited and waited. Soon, a red eyed Roman came out again.
He was no longer in a rage. Instead, he once again completely ignored Tapper and retreated into his room.
Tapper was going to follow but the voice that came from within the room stopped him.
"Child, I know you're there. Enter."
Though surprised, Tapper obeyed and pushed open the door. The first thing that he had noticed that all sorts of papers were tossed around the room.
It looked like a tornado had swept through it.
Apparently, Roman had thrown quite a tantrum.
"Greetings Master."
Tapper wondered when the Tourey family people were going to ask for his name.
"As you can see, my son is not cooperating.
" This was due to the bad influence brought by the previous personal servant assigned to him.
"With your arrival, Fin was… removed.
" I hope it will not happen to you as well."
Wayde spoke with an expressionless face. But there was also an indifference in it.
Tapper could infer what was going on.
Fin was most likely dead for being a bad influence.
He shuddered as he recalled George's dead body.
Tapper also recognized the threat in the Master's tone. This time, he did not add any excessive emotions in his reply.
"Yes Master,"
"Alright, dismissed,"
Tapper bowed and left the room. He then ran to catch up to the Young Master. Meanwhile, he felt even more distressed.
'Ahh… rich people problems! None of the gang lords ever gave a damn about bad influences to their children. Sigh.'
The rest of the day's interactions between Roman and Tapper was…
To say that it was super stiff and awkward would be light.
It was not the worst Tapper has ever been treated.
For the next few days, Roman had literally not complied to anything.
From tossing vases to food as well as articles of clothing that Tapper had just folded. Tapper's patience was being strained.
Thankfully Tapper was brilliant at matters of encouragement, Roman wasn't too far off from his daily schedule.
But constantly dealing with a difficult young master left Tapper completely exhausted by the end of the day.
He often screamed "ahh… why me??"
And before he slept, he made sure to repeat the "I am loyal. I live to serve. The Master's word is law" mantra over and over as if hypnotizing himself.
But mentally of course.
Soon came the day that Wayde had arranged to test Tapper's combat skills.
Tapper's best weapon had been his mouth but otherwise, the only thing Tapper used to fight with was fishing wire. He also had a couple of needles that he used to throw.
Tapper walked towards the combat training room and opened the door. He entered the room and looked around.
But, as he did so,
Swoosh!
A flying dagger narrowly passed the area above Tapper's head.
It was where his face had been a split second ago.
Tapper was still very attune to attacks and therefore was able to dodge. But he was left with no time to think.
Quickly, a couple more flying daggers shot towards him forcing Tapper into the room.
He dodged all of it in the most precise, energy consuming method.
Tapper's skills weren't as good as the quick handed Ink but he was speedy.
He whipped out a needle and flung it towards the attacker before he jumped to dodge another dagger.
But soon enough, he took a good look and realized that despite the change in clothing and looks, the attacker was actually really familiar!
Tapper could recognize the posture and personal ticks of the man.
"Master!?" Tapper shouted in shock.
'Master! Why you attack meeee…???'
Tapper dodged two more daggers and prepared to dodge more but out of nowhere, a violent force hit Tapper.
He had no time to dodge at all.
Tapper was knocked back a few meters and fell on the ground.
The face of the Master reverted back to its original looks.
Wayde was impressed that Tapper was able to recognize him.
The more times that they interacted, the more satisfied with Tapper that he became.
Not just that, Tapper's response to danger and observation abilities are really top notch.
'The movements seemed instinctive.
'Dodging using the bare minimum and not showy.
'There were even some gracefulness shown. Not bad at all.'
If trained a bit more, then, this boy could grow to be a formidable weapon.
It was the main reason why Wayde had wanted to test Tapper himself.
Wayde had big plans for Tapper even if he ended up unsuited to become Roman's personal attendant and guard.
It wasn't that there were too little talented people that the Tourey family was in charge of but that most of the talented seedlings had deep connections and social backgrounds.
In other words, none of them had the potential to be unwaveringly loyal to himself.
It was pure luck that Wayde had encountered a talented child that had potential yet had no suspicious connections.
No one knows of his existence.
And bonus, the kid was grateful to himself.
It would be just too easy to influence and manipulate his thoughts.
Tapper looked up at Wayde. He felt the power of force that had been used to hit him.
But what alarmed him the most— to the point that he went slightly pale— was that the two of them never actually made any physical contact.
Too overpowered!
He didn't even have time to use the fishing wire!
"Not bad for your age."
Wayde remarked,
"At least you dodged every flying knife. But now, attack me. Show me what you can do."
Wayde said as he turned his back to Tapper and casually strolled to his original spot. It was as if he didn't even care if Tapper had aimed at him when he was turned around.
Tapper didn't have much direct confrontation skills. So he did what he would fight in with the few skills he did have.
He used the fishing wire and began to toss it back and forth. It weaved and intersected in midair. Wayde didn't do anything. He only watched the dancing wire with interest.
With the trap set up in seconds, Tapper reached and pulled on one strand. It caused a chain reaction to occur as multiple wires flew and with an extremely fast speed, whipped towards the stationary Wayde.
He simply used one hand to knock them away.
But Tapper had used this trap not because it trapped the victim.
He pulled out the last couple of projectile weapons and rushed in a curvature movement while tossing them out one by one.
The small projectiles' trajectory were intercepted by the still-thrashing fish wire.
They curved in mid air to shoot at Wayde from various difficult angles.
Usually the projectiles are tossed by Ink. Tapper mentally sighed once he thought of Ink but pushed those thoughts aside.
It would not do him well to get distracted in battle.
As the needles rapidly approached Wayde, Tapper tanked hard on one strand of the fish wire causing the entire net to tighten. It instantly restricted Wayde's movement.
Tapper never considered the possibility of beating Wayde at all. He just needed to show him what his overall fighting style was like.
So he didn't hold back.
Even Tapper could sense that the Master was trying to find a way to improve any combat skills that he had.
Holding back would have been counterproductive.
This was an optimal learning opportunity!
Besides, as a highly ranked police officer familiar with people, any ill intent would be detected.
This had also been why Tapper took some time each day to hypnotize himself.
Faced with the duo dangers of the net and the needles, all Wayde did was simply flash.
He disappeared from Tapper sight entirely before the net closed. And reappeared next to it.
Tapper felt really complicated.
'Ah… is our level difference that large?
'Shouldn't even a little bit of damage been done?'
Whatever Tapper felt didn't matter to Wayde.
"Is that what you can do?"
"Yes Master." Tapper glanced over at the collapsed fish wire and sighed.
"There are more variations but I only have one that could be accomplished with a single wire…"
Wayde still had high expectations for Tapper. This battle only raised them.
Of course, this attack style had to be kept as a trump card. Not as something to be used as sparring or showing off.
"You are agile and fast.
" Skilled with your hands.
"However fish wire's usefulness, you will need to learn a bit about attacking."
Wayde assessed the results.
"I know what kind of fighting style you will need to learn…"
Tapper stayed silent and watched the Master announce his results.
However, Wayde didn't say.
"Arrive here every day at 7 pm. Start tomorrow."
"...."
"Yes Master."
Tapper responded in the standard manner but inwardly…
'Ahh… Master… Why the cliffhanger???'